Even with 29 years in, he said every couple of games something new or different happens.

“I remember once I was working with a volunteer umpire in an 8-year-old game,” Clay said. “He knew the mom and dad of a batter. Right before the pitch was thrown he called time.

The kid hit the pitch out of the park and everyone was cheering. And this poor umpire had to go tell the kid he was taking away the home run.”

Clay said at his age the hardest part of umpiring is getting in the car.

“Once I’m at the park, I like being part of the game,” said Clay, who also coached basketball in Durand for more than 25 years. “I’ll continue to umpire until I’m tired of it. That may never happen. I was a catcher, and I played baseball up until I was 50. I just love the game.”